My Emergn journey: Inese’s experience in design and engineering
Meet Inese Ankudinova, Lead Design Engineer at Emergn. Inese’s career path brings together creativity, analytical thinking, and a strong drive to keep learning. From sketching fashion designs as a child to working on key innovation projects today, Inese has successfully combined two worlds that often can seem far apart – creativity and technology.
Tell us a bit about your backstory and how you got started
My career journey was anything but straightforward. Growing up, I spent hours drawing and creating, but fashion design didn’t feel realistic as a career. I chose to study management and economics, yet after earning my bachelor’s degree, I realized banking wasn’t for me. That led me to switch to computer science, even though it wasn’t a typical choice for women at the time.
While studying computer science, I started looking for an internship and was offered a graphic design role by the company I interviewed with. It was the perfect opportunity to blend my technical and creative skills, and that experience set the direction for my entire career.
What’s your role at Emergn and how long have you been with the company?
After my internship, I was offered a position as a Junior Graphic Designer and stayed with the same company, which eventually became part of Emergn. Over the next 10+ years, my role has evolved through UI design to Design Engineer, blending design and coding in my daily work. Now I’m part of the Praxis by Emergn team, an exciting and strategically important product for the company. This role brings a whole new set of challenges and learning opportunities.
Tell us about the work you are most proud of
I am genuinely proud to be part of the Praxis by Emergn team. We’re a strong, talented group, and I’m always inspired by my colleagues. Knowing that our product can objectively help people make important business decisions gives real purpose to what we do. It’s rewarding to know that my work has a real impact.
How would you describe the culture at Emergn?
For me, Emergn is a calm and supportive place to work, where you can always rely on colleagues for help or advice. That trust and collaboration matter a lot to me. If I had to describe our culture in one word, it would be “change” – we embrace growth, learning, and trying new things. If you enjoy variety and want a place that encourages your development, this is it.
Outside of work, what’s something people should know about you?
I find real peace by the sea. Walking by the water calms me and helps me reset. I also enjoy cycling (at a leisurely pace!) and spending time with my cat and dog. They help me keep a good balance and bring a lot of joy to my day-to-day life.
To be honest, I spend much of my free time learning about topics related to my work. It not only keeps me up to date with the latest AI developments, but I genuinely enjoy the process. Discovering new things and figuring them out gives me a real sense of accomplishment and simple, pure joy.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone just starting out?
Push yourself to try new things, even if you’re unsure or afraid of failing. Most limits are only in your head. Sometimes you’ll succeed, sometimes you won’t, but every step helps you grow.
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